居然
HSK 5- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Adverb 居然 expresses surprise or astonishment at something completely unexpected.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
居然 is an adverb used to emphasize surprise or disbelief when something happens contrary to normal expectations. It is equivalent to "actually," "and yet," or "unexpectedly" in English.
居然 can be used for both positive and negative situations, as long as they are unexpected. For example, you might be surprised that a friend who never reads books 居然 finished an entire novel, or surprised that on a beautiful sunny day it 居然 suddenly poured with rain.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 这么难的题，他居然做出来了。繁: 這麼難的題，他居然做出來了。Zhème nán de tí, tā jūrán zuò chūlái le.
Such a difficult problem, and he actually managed to solve it.
- 他居然忘了我们的约会。繁: 他居然忘了我們的約會。Tā jūrán wàng le wǒmen de yuēhuì.
He actually forgot our appointment.
- 你居然不知道这件事？繁: 你居然不知道這件事？Nǐ jūrán bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì?
You mean to say you don't know about this?
- 这么简单的字，你居然不认识。繁: 這麼簡單的字，你居然不認識。Zhème jiǎndān de zì, nǐ jūrán bú rènshi.
Such a simple character, and you don't even recognize it.
- 外面那么冷，他居然只穿一件T恤。繁: 外面那麼冷，他居然只穿一件T恤。Wàimiàn nàme lěng, tā jūrán zhǐ chuān yí jiàn T-xù.
Despite it being so cold outside, he wore only a T-shirt.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他忘了居然我们的约会。Correct:他居然忘了我们的约会。
居然 is an adverb and must stand immediately before the verb or verb phrase it modifies.
- Wrong:他很高，居然能打篮球。Correct:他虽然不高，但居然很会打篮球。
居然 is used for something contrary to logic. If he is tall, playing basketball well is normal and not surprising.